《马基雅维里 君主论英文prince》

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马基雅维里 君主论英文prince- 第13部分


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fight in foreign lands; no dissensions arose either among them or

against the prince; whether in his bad or in his good fortune。 This

arose from nothing else than his inhuman cruelty; which; with his

boundless valour; made him revered and terrible in the sight of his

soldiers; but without that cruelty; his other virtues were not

sufficient to produce this effect。 And shortsighted writers admire his

deeds from one point of view and from another condemn the principal

cause of them。 That it is true his other virtues would not have been

sufficient for him may be proved by the case of Scipio; that most

excellent man; not of his own times but within the memory of man;

against whom; nevertheless; his army rebelled in Spain; this arose from

nothing but his too great forbearance; which gave his soldiers more

licence than is consistent with military discipline。 For this he was

upbraided in the Senate by Fabius Maximus; and called the corrupter of

the Roman soldiery。 The Locrians were laid waste by a legate of Scipio;

yet they were not avenged by him; nor was the insolence of the legate

punished; owing entirely to his easy nature。 Insomuch that someone in

the Senate; wishing to excuse him; said there were many men who knew

much better how not to err than to correct the errors of others。 This

disposition; if he had been continued in the mand; would have

destroyed in time the fame and glory of Scipio; but; he being under the

control of the Senate; this injurious characteristic not only concealed

itself; but contributed to his glory。



Returning to the question of being feared or loved; I e to the

conclusion that; men loving according to their own will and fearing

according to that of the prince; a wise prince should establish himself

on that which is in his own control and not in that of others; he must

endeavour only to avoid hatred; as is noted。



1。 。。。against my will; my fate;

   A throne unsettled; and an infant state;

   Bid me defend my realms with all my pow'rs;

   And guard with these severities my shores。



CHAPTER XVIII



CONCERNING THE WAY IN WHICH PRINCES SHOULD KEEP FAITH



EVERY one admits how praiseworthy it is in a prince to keep faith; and

to live with integrity and not with craft。 Nevertheless our experience

has been that those princes who have done great things have held good

faith of little account; and have known how to circumvent the intellect

of men by craft; and in the end have overe those who have relied on

their word。 You must know there are two ways of contesting; the one by

the law; the other by force; the first method is proper to men; the

second to beasts; but because the first is frequently not sufficient; it

is necessary to have recourse to the second。 Therefore it is necessary

for a prince to understand how to avail himself of the beast and the

man。 This has been figuratively taught to princes by ancient writers;

who describe how Achilles and many other princes of old were given to

the Centaur Chiron to nurse; who brought them up in his discipline;

which means solely that; as they had for a teacher one who was half

beast and half man; so it is necessary for a prince to know how to make

use of both natures; and that one without the other is not durable。 A

prince; therefore; being pelled knowingly to adopt the beast; ought

to choose the fox and the lion; because the lion cannot defend himself

against snares and the fox cannot defend himself against wolves。

Therefore; it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares and a lion

to terrify the wolves。 Those who rely simply on the lion do not

understand what they are about。 Therefore a wise lord cannot; nor ought

he to; keep faith when such observance may be turned against him; and

when the reasons that caused him to pledge it exist no longer。 If men

were entirely good this precept would not hold; but because they are

bad; and will not keep faith with you; you too are not bound to observe

it with them。 Nor will there ever be wanting to a prince legitimate

reasons to excuse this nonobservance。 Of this endless modern examples

could be given; showing how many treaties and engagements have been made

void and of no effect through the faithlessness of princes; and he who

has known best how to employ the fox has succeeded best。



But it is necessary to know well how to disguise this characteristic;

and to be a great pretender and dissembler; and men are so simple; and

so subject to present necessities; that he who seeks to deceive will

always find someone who will allow himself to be deceived。 One recent

example I cannot pass over in silence。 Alexander VI did nothing else but

deceive men; nor ever thought of doing otherwise; and he always found

victims; for there never was a man who had greater power in asserting;

or who with greater oaths would affirm a thing; yet would observe it

less; nevertheless his deceits always succeeded according to his wishes;

because he well understood this side of mankind。



Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities

I have enumerated; but it is very necessary to appear to have them。 And

I shall dare to say this also; that to have them and always to observe

them is injurious; and that to appear to have them is useful; to appear

merciful; faithful; humane; religious; upright; and to be so; but with a

mind so framed that should you require not to be so; you may be able and

know how to change to the opposite。



And you have to understand this; that a prince; especially a new one;

cannot observe all those things for which men are esteemed; being often

forced; in order to maintain the state; to act contrary to faith;

friendship; humanity; and religion。 Therefore it is necessary for him to

have a mind ready to turn itself accordingly as the winds and variations

of fortune force it; yet; as I have said above; not to diverge from the

good if he can avoid doing so; but; if pelled; then to know how to

set about it。



For this reason a prince ought to take care that he never lets anything

slip from his lips that is not replete with the above…named five

qualities; that he may appear to him who sees and hears him altogether

merciful; faithful; humane; upright; and religious。 There is nothing

more necessary to appear to have than this last quality; inasmuch as men

judge generally more by the eye than by the hand; because it belongs to

everybody to see you; to few to e in touch with you。 Every one sees

what you appear to be; few really know what you are; and those few dare

not oppose themselves to the opinion of the many; who have the majesty

of the state to defend them; and in the actions of all men; and

especially of princes; which it is not prudent to challenge; one judges

by the result。



For that reason; let a prince have the credit of conquering and holding

his state; the means will always be considered honest; and he will be

praised by everybody because the vulgar are always taken by what a thing

seems to be and by what es of it; and in the world there are only the

vulgar; for the few find a place there only when the many have no ground

to rest on。



One prince '1' of the present time; whom it is not well to name; never

preaches anything else but peace and good faith; and to both he is most

hostile; and either; if he had kept it; would have deprived him of

reputation and kingdom many a time。



1。 Maximilian I; Holy Roman Emperor。



CHAPTER XIX



THAT ONE SHOULD AVOID BEING DESPISED AND HATED



Now; concerning the characteristics of which mention is made above; I

have spoken of the more important ones; the others I wish to discuss

briefly under this generality; that the prince must consider; as has

been in part said before; how to avoid those things which will make him

hated or contemptible; and as often as he shall have succeeded he will

have fulfilled his part; and he need not fear any danger in other

reproaches。



It makes him hated above all things; as I have said; to be rapacious;

and to be a violator of the property and women of his subjects; from

both of which he must abstain。 And when neither their property nor

honour is touched; the majority of men live content; and he has only to

contend with the ambition of a few; whom he can curb with ease in many

ways。



It makes him contemptible to be considered fickle; frivolous;

effeminate; mean…spirited; irresolute; from all of which a prince should

guard himself as from a rock; and he should endeavour to show in his

actions greatness; courage; gravity; and fortitude; and in his private

dealings with his subjects let him show that his judgments are

irrevocable; and maintain himself in such reputation that no one can

hope either to deceive him or to get round him。



That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself;

and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; for;

provided it is well known that he is an
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